JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian rescuers are searching for a cargo ship with 12 people on board that has been missing since last week off the easternmost Papua region, officials said on Monday.

The cargo ship is carrying equipment to build telecommunication towers and other infrastructure for the communications ministry.

It set sail on Monday last week from Timika to the highland area of Yahukimo to set up communications infrastructure there, but went missing two days later, said Fadhilah Mathar, a communications ministry official.

The search and rescue agency began searching for the ship on Saturday, using 150 personnel and two navy ships, said the head of local rescue team, I Wayan Suyatna.

It is unclear what caused the ship to lose contact, the agency said.